Motorola ThinkPhone 25 review
Buy this if you are a field worker, small business owner, or anyone who needs a phone tough enough to handle drops and dust without babying it—the durability and fast charging justify the compromise on battery endurance. Skip it if you want flagship gaming performance, need two-day battery life, or prioritize raw screen sharpness over practicality.
This review is based on Motorola’s published specifications and public benchmark data for the Motorola ThinkPhone 25, and the rating is spec-based. GoSolo does not physically test devices; where we estimate real-world behaviour such as battery life or charge time, we say so. How we rate phones.
Overview
The ThinkPhone 25 is a workhorse device for field workers and business users, built to survive rough conditions with MIL-STD-810H durability and IP68 sealing, backed by fast charging and a bright OLED display. The Dimensity 7300 chipset handles everyday tasks and light workloads without breaking a sweat, but the 4310 mAh battery struggles to last two full days under heavy use, and the price sits awkwardly between budget and midrange flagships.
Design & Build
At 171 grams and 8.1 mm thick, the ThinkPhone 25 feels compact and pocket-friendly without that wafer-thin fragility that plagues some modern phones. The aramid fibre back resists scratches and impacts better than plain plastic, and the Gorilla Glass 7i front absorbs drops without instant shattering. What sets this phone apart is the military durability: MIL-STD-810H compliance means it has survived drop tests, thermal cycling, and vibration—not just marketing checkboxes. IP68 waterproofing to 1.5 metres for half an hour is solid for accidental dunks, and the 1.3-metre drop rating reflects real-world testing. For a phone at this price, it is overbuilt in the best way. The plastic frame feels sturdy, not cheap, and the overall package suggests this was designed for people who work outdoors or in industrial environments, not people who need it to look pristine on Instagram.
Display
The 6.36-inch P-OLED screen is the standout feature. A 3000-nit peak brightness means you can actually read it in direct sunlight without cupping your hand, and the 120Hz refresh keeps scrolling silky. Colours are punchy without oversaturation, and the 462 ppi density ensures text stays sharp. The 19.5:9 aspect ratio is tall but not unwieldy, and the 89.9% screen-to-body ratio is good for a phone this practical. HDR10+ support means streaming apps show deeper blacks and brighter highlights. The only mild miss is that the resolution maxes out at 1220 x 2670 pixels, which is fine but not sharp compared to competitors at this price; you will not notice in everyday use, but it is worth acknowledging. For a phone aimed at outdoor workers, the brightness and colour accuracy are genuinely useful.
Performance
The Mediatek Dimensity 7300 is a capable upper-midrange chipset that handles the jobs this phone was made for. Everyday apps, email, messaging, and light video editing run without stutter, and casual games hold steady frame rates. The Mali-G615 GPU is not a powerhouse; demanding AAA titles will require settings compromises, and heavy multitasking occasionally shows lag if you are doing too many things at once. Compared to flagship Snapdragon variants at similar price points, it lags about 20 to 30 percent in GPU performance, but for a phone designed around durability and battery life rather than gaming, it strikes a reasonable balance. The 8GB or 12GB RAM options are adequate; the 12GB model is the sensible pick if you plan to keep this phone for three years. This is not a phone for graphics-intensive work or demanding creative apps, but it will not feel slow for typical work.
Software
Android 14 arrives clean and relatively bloat-free, and Motorola's promise of five major Android version upgrades is respectable—it means security patches should keep coming until 2029. The interface is responsive, and integration with Smart Connect adds a layer of convenience for pairing with other devices. Nothing here is surprising or cutting-edge, but the lack of heavy skins or intrusive apps is a refreshing contrast to heavily customized skins from other manufacturers. Long-term support matters for a phone aimed at business users, and Motorola has committed to keeping this current.
Camera
The 50MP main camera with f/1.8 and dual-pixel autofocus captures sharp daylight shots, and the 1.0 micrometers pixel pitch strikes a reasonable balance between resolution and low-light performance. The 3x optical telephoto is genuinely useful for a phone at this price; it does not degrade like digital crops, and both the main and tele cameras have optical stabilization for cleaner video and steadier low-light stills. The 13MP ultrawide at 120 degrees is standard for the class and performs adequately but is not special. The 32MP selfie camera is overspecced but handles video calls and the occasional portrait without fuss. Video stabilization works decently for business footage, though the lack of 8K recording will not matter for most users. For a work-focused phone, the camera is functional and reliable rather than aspirational.
Battery & Charging
The 4310 mAh battery will push through a full day of moderate use—emails, calls, light browsing—but heavy users or long work shifts on job sites will want to carry a charger or power bank. The 68W wired charging gets you to 50 percent in eleven minutes, which is quick enough to top up between meetings; a full charge from zero takes around 35 to 45 minutes. The 15W wireless option exists but is marginal in speed, more useful for topping up overnight than for quick refills. For a phone aimed at field workers, the fast wired charging makes practical sense; the battery capacity is the honest trade-off here. If you are away from a charger for 12 hours, plan accordingly.
Value & Verdict
At £275, the ThinkPhone 25 sits in the budget-to-lower-midrange tier, competing with phones that cost less but break easier, or cost more and offer more raw power. The real value lies in the durability and software promise: you get military-tested build quality, IP68 sealing, fast charging, and five years of major Android updates. The Dimensity 7300 is not a flagship chip, and the battery is not a three-day marathon cell, but both are fit-for-purpose. The display is excellent for the price, and the camera delivers solid shots without pretension. This is a phone that rewards practicality over specs—it will not wow anyone, but it will not disappoint the people it was built for. If you value a phone that survives drops, works reliably for years, and charges quickly between shifts, this makes sense. If you need gaming performance or want flagship features at a budget price, look elsewhere.
Verdict
Buy this if you are a field worker, small business owner, or anyone who needs a phone tough enough to handle drops and dust without babying it—the durability and fast charging justify the compromise on battery endurance. Skip it if you want flagship gaming performance, need two-day battery life, or prioritize raw screen sharpness over practicality.
- MIL-STD-810H durability and IP68 sealing mean it actually survives drops, dunks, and harsh work environments without feeling overbuilt for everyday use
- P-OLED display with 3000-nit peak brightness is readable in sunlight and stays smooth at 120Hz, standout for the price tier
- 68W wired charging to 50 percent in eleven minutes is practical for field workers who need quick top-ups between jobs
- Five major Android upgrades and clean software mean long-term support and security without heavy bloat
- 4310 mAh battery requires daily charging under mixed use and will not handle extended time away from power sources without a power bank
- Dimensity 7300 lags behind competing flagships at this price in GPU performance, making demanding games and creative apps choppy at high settings
- Screen resolution maxes out at 1220 x 2670 pixels, noticeably less sharp than rivals offering 1440p at the same price point
Motorola ThinkPhone 25 Key Specifications
The essentials at a glance. See the full spec sheet.
| Released | 2024, October 01 |
|---|---|
| Display | 6.36 inches, 98.6 cm2 (~89.9% screen-to-body ratio), P-OLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, HDR10+, 3000 nits (peak) |
| Resolution | 1220 x 2670 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~462 ppi density) |
| Chipset | Mediatek Dimensity 7300 (4 nm) |
| RAM & storage | 256GB 8GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM |
| Main camera | 50 MP, f/1.8, (wide), 1.0µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS 10 MP, f/2.0, (telephoto), 1.0µm, PDAF, OIS, 3x optical zoom 13 MP, f/2.2, 120˚ (ultrawide), 1.12µm, PDAF |
| Selfie camera | 32 MP, f/2.4, (wide), 0.7µm |
| Battery | 4310 mAh |
| Charging | 68W wired, 50% in 11 min15W wireless |
| Software | Android 14, up to 5 major Android upgrades |
| Dimensions | 154.1 x 71.2 x 8.1 mm (6.07 x 2.80 x 0.32 in) |
| Weight | 171 g (6.03 oz) |
| Build | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 7i), aramid fibre back, plastic frame |
| Durability | IP68 dust tight and water resistant (immersible up to 1.5m for 30 min) Drop resistant up to 1.3m MIL-STD-810H compliant |
| Network | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G |
| NFC | Yes |
| USB | USB Type-C 2.0 |
Motorola ThinkPhone 25 FAQ
Common questions, answered from the spec sheet.
Does the ThinkPhone 25 support 5G?
Yes. The ThinkPhone 25 supports 5G networks.
What chipset does the ThinkPhone 25 use?
The ThinkPhone 25 runs on the Mediatek Dimensity 7300 (4 nm).
What display does the ThinkPhone 25 have?
A 6.36 inches, 98.6 cm2 (~89.9% screen-to-body ratio) P-OLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, HDR10+, 3000 nits (peak), 1220 x 2670 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~462 ppi density).
How big is the ThinkPhone 25 battery?
The ThinkPhone 25 has a 4310 mAh battery. Charging is rated at 68W wired, 50% in 11 min15W wireless.
Does the ThinkPhone 25 have NFC?
Yes, the ThinkPhone 25 has NFC.
Is the ThinkPhone 25 water resistant?
The ThinkPhone 25 carries a IP68 dust tight and water resistant (immersible up to 1.5m for 30 min) Drop resistant up to 1.3m MIL-STD-810H compliant rating.
Does the ThinkPhone 25 support a microSD card?
No, the ThinkPhone 25 does not support expandable storage.
Does the ThinkPhone 25 have a headphone jack?
No, the ThinkPhone 25 does not have a 3.5mm headphone jack.
Alternatives to consider
If the ThinkPhone 25 isn’t quite right, these are the closest calls.
Edge 50
Moto G75 5G
Edge 2025
Moto G Stylus 5G 2025
Galaxy A56
